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Kali Trickle Down in Full Effect, DOT Full Face, Road Helmets Get Cheaper, Lighter, and More Protective

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Kali helmets 2014 Shiva road helmet gloves20140130_0766

If you haven’t figured it out by now, while Kali has a lot of cool looking helmets, the real draw is in their technology. Drawing on his background in military composites engineering and then bicycle composites engineering, co -founder and lead engineer Brad Waldron has introduced a number of new technologies that challenge the ideas of what a helmet can be. No where is that more visible than in the trickle down of Composite Fusion plus into cheaper helmets like the new Sastra full face and Loka road helmets. Add in other features and technology like Bumper fit, Contego, the Pop Out system and more, and you’re left with a new crop of helmets that offer incredible performance at an impressive price.

See what Kali’s been up to with actual weights and more, plus what might be the most impressive DOT bike helmet yet after the jump.

Kali helmets 2014 Shiva road helmet gloves20140130_0765 Kali helmets 2014 Shiva road helmet gloves20140130_0772

On the downhill side of things, the Sastra is Kali’s newest DOT approved full face. At $149, the Sastra is the first DOT helmet to offer Composite Fusion Plus from Kali under $280. The barrier to entry had been the plastic shell – originally, Composite Fusion Plus had been limited to fiberglass or carbon shells only just because the process didn’t lent itself to the ABS plastic. As Brad puts it, when people tell him something isn’t possible that just makes him want to figure it out even more. Clearly, they found the answer which resulted in an ECE22.05 and DOT (FMVSS218) certified full face well under $200. For anyone not familiar with Composite Fusion Plus, it is a technique that molds the EPS foam directly into the rigid shell of the helmet which serves to eliminate any gaps between the two. The system also uses a multi density approach to the foam with pyramidal coes molded into the cross section that they call their “Cone Head” technology. The cones basically act as a crumple zone and help disperse the energy laterally into the other foam instead of vertically into your head.

Kali helmets 2014 Shiva road helmet gloves20140130_0767

Kali helmets 2014 Shiva road helmet gloves20140130_0768

Thanks to the lip formed into the bottom edge of the helmet, the Sastra is fully Leat Brace compatible. Even though the helmet is Dot approved, it is equipped with a number of vents to keep you cool when pedaling. Inside you’ll find an antibacterial, removable and washable liner to keep things fresh.

Kali helmets 2014 Shiva road helmet gloves20140130_0769 Kali helmets 2014 Shiva road helmet gloves20140130_0770

The visor is equipped with Kali’s Pop Out system which allows you to remove the white triangle from the helmet above and replace it with the black insert shown. Once the insert is installed you can use it for mounting a GoPro, light, etc.

Kali helmets 2014 Shiva road helmet gloves20140130_0771

Weighing in at 1425g for a small, the Sastra is still impressively light for a DOT helmet at this price range. Not anywhere near as impressive as the Kali Shiva, but we’ll get to that in a second. Sastras will be available in XS-XXL in a number of colors including solids, Patchwork, and Dominoe graphics for $149.

Kali helmets 2014 Shiva road helmet gloves20140130_0782

These are both DOT certified helmets. One is a large, the other is a medium – can you tell which is which? It’s hard to believe, but the helmet on the right is a large in the new Shiva, while the left is a medium Prana. We got a sneak peek at the Shiva both at Dealer Camp and Sea Otter, but it’s almost ready for production. Yes, it’s taking a while to make it to production, but this is truly a ground breaking helmet and likely will be the lightest DOT approved helmet in production.

Kali helmets 2014 Shiva road helmet gloves20140130_0781 Kali 2014 dot helmet weight

Since we last saw the Shiva, Brad has stiffened up the chin guard and changed out the padding as well as added graphics which gives a weight of 1065g. A good bit more than the 887g we saw last, but it’s still insanely light for a DOT full face. Kali mentioned they were planning to make it a bit lighter and we should see the production version of the Shiva soon.

Kali helmets 2014 Shiva road helmet gloves20140130_0773

On the road bike side, Kali is wrapping up the development of their Loka and Phenom helmets which will be available very soon. Each helmet uses Composite Fusion Plus and the Bumper Fit system which uses visco-elastic pads that are co-molded into the EPS liner. If you haven’t tried a helmet with the Bumper Fit system, you should – they are amazingly comfortable as the inside of the helmet conforms to your head. Currently, the Phenom is using Low Density Light foam which is 90g per cubic liter. Brad is actually considering even lighter foam which means it will absorb more energy making a safer helmet. If you haven’t noticed, Brad is always trying to figure out how to make a better helmet.

Kali helmets 2014 Shiva road helmet gloves20140130_0776

The big difference between the two helmets is the use of Supervent technology on the Phenom which reinforces the large vents maintaining the helmet’s structural integrity but offering the best ventilation. Both helmets us the Micro Fit system with a dial, and include removable/washable padding, with the Phenom offering a winter/bug liner.

Kali helmets 2014 Shiva road helmet gloves20140130_0775 Kali helmets 2014 Shiva road helmet gloves20140130_0774

On the scale, the cheaper Loka is actually lighter than the Phenom (275g vs 308g) but the Phenom offers better venting thanks to the Supervent. The Phenom will retail for $159 and will be offered in S/M and M/L while the Loka is $99 in the same sizes.

 

 

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Matt
Matt
10 years ago

From the headline I got excited that they might also have a full-face road-helmet.

After seeing a few folks get absolutely mangled with months to years of therapy and recovery from having hit their faces on the pavement while road riding I’d love to see some more options in this category.

AlanM
AlanM
10 years ago

@Zach, just a little minor edit needed. “The process didn’t lent itself…”

David
David
10 years ago

Matt, the Met Parachute is the closest thing I’ve seen to a full-face for roadies.

I have one of the Kali road helmets, and it’s easily the most comfortable helmet I’ve ever put on, out of Bell, Louis Garneau, Giro, Catlike, Lazer, 661, Specialized and Vetta.

Mindless
Mindless
10 years ago

Cool looking? I guess if you are into acid trips.

Why can’t they make their nice helmets look sensible?

Mindless
Mindless
10 years ago

Why do you need DOT certification for a bicycle helmet? Many of the requirements are utterly irrelevant.

star
star
10 years ago

this guy allows the chin piece to be carbinered on the camelbak to the top and snapped in for the decent. XC stuff for sure, but interesting, you would only look like a dork, till you needed it…http://www.cratoni.de/en/bike-mobile/all-helmets/c-maniac-black-white-glossy-detail

Dave
Dave
10 years ago

Re: DOT certification: for most riders, you don’t. But DH riders routinely hit motorcycle speeds, on terrain where you can hit a tree or a rock and just stop, instead of spending your momentum in a skid or tumble. A standard bike helmet wouldn’t be much help in that scenario.

@Matt: I’ve broken 5 bones on the trails, and I still think road riding is more dangerous. But you’re never gonna convince me or any other roadie he needs a full-face – none of our riding buddies wear them, they’re expensive, they’re heavy, they’re hot, they reduce peripheral vision, it’s not comfortable to hold a road bike position in one…. risk/benefit just doesn’t support it, even knowing what the pavement can do your fucking face.

Matt
Matt
10 years ago

@Dave,

You bring up some great points, and they’re all 100% valid for full-face helmets as they exist today.

I’d love to see some more helmets like the MET Parachute, or possibly better iterations of that. Something light, strong, breathable, and that will help to cause a direct face blow glance around your delicate face and into a more rigid structure. I definitely see a potential for full-face helmets that have plenty of ventilation more like a hockey or football helmet than a motorcycle helmet.

Perhaps some of the higher speeds that descents will have once disc brakes are in the mix will help to spur some of this innovation?

Ham-planet
Ham-planet
10 years ago

Surely if it’s DOT-certified, that makes it a motorcycle helmet, rather than a bicycle helmet?

Mike
Mike
10 years ago

Ham,
As someone else stated before lots of DH riders use DOT helmets.
The article talks about trickle down technology. So why not start at these DOT “motorcycle” helmets and trickle down the technology into stuff us cyclist can use.
Anytime a company is pushing safety don’t we all win?

gabbia
gabbia
10 years ago

Do you people not read the whole article.
All you see is DOT…do you not see that this helmet is made differently(and also happens to be DOT certified) as are the other road helmets he talks about? Safety while looking good.
Kali is onto something here.

Ham-planet
Ham-planet
9 years ago

@Mike
I am aware that many DH riders choose to wear DOT-certified helmets. My confusion arises from the fact that the ‘bicycle-oriented’ Shiva helmet is much smaller than ‘moto-oriented’ Prana helmet pictured above, despite the two of them being certified to the same standard. I can’t understand why the moto market would tolerate such large helmets if they can get DOT-certified protection in a much smaller package.

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